Falcons Pick Up 12-8 Home Victory Over Siena (3/14/06)

Falcons Pick Up 12-8 Home Victory Over Siena

USAFA, Colo. - Despite giving up five unanswered goals in the first half, the Air Force lacrosse team came back to remain undefeated at home with a 12-8 win over Siena Tuesday afternoon at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium. The Falcons improve to 2-4 on the season with the win, while the Saints fall to 0-4.

Air Force got out to a 2-0 lead following a pair of scores by sophomore Kevin Crumrine (Edgewater, Md.), but Siena responded with the next five goals to take a 5-2 lead early in the second period. Junior Justin Kuchta (Ridgefield, Conn.) used the feed from Michael Weber (Jr., Wantagh, N.Y.) to cut Air Force’s deficit to two points, but the Saints went back up by three with Matt Walsh’s second score of the day.

Two more Air Force goals cut into Siena’s margin once more, but again, the Saints had an answer, scoring with 4:08 to play in the second quarter. Less than two minutes later, junior Conrad Lochocki (Chalfont, Pa.) notched his first goal of the game to bring Air Force within one point. While Siena won the ensuing face-off, the Saints turned the ball over, enabling Griffin Nevitt (Fr., Charlotte, N.C.) to scoop up the ground ball and score on the breakaway for the game-tying goal just prior to intermission.

The Falcons carried their momentum into the second half, regaining their lead on a Nevitt-assisted score by junior tri-captain Will Meister (Denver, Colo.) midway through the third period. The Air Force advantage grew to two goals after Crumrine’s third score of the day on the assist from Nevitt, but Siena closed the quarter with a goal of its own to get back within one.

Although Siena won 3-of-4 face-offs in the fourth period, it was Air Force that held the advantage on the scoreboard, outscoring the Saints 3-0 in the final stanza to seal its second-straight win. Back-up goalkeeper Daniel Bellissimo (Jr., Glen Cove, N.Y.) was impressive in relief for the Falcons, notching five saves and just one goal against in the second half against the Saints. Kyle O’Neill (Jr., Portsmouth, R.I.) took 19-of-23 face-offs for Air Force in the game, winning 10 of them.

The Falcons’ offense was led by Crumrine, who notched four goals in the victory for Air Force, while Nevitt added three goals and two assists. Kuchta also was a multiple-point scorer with two goals and two assists, while Meister added one goal and a team-high three assists.

For the Saints, Walsh and Matt Girsh each scored two goals and an assist, while Matt Donovan tallied a goal and three assists. Siena also held the advantage on face-offs, winning 13-of-23, led by 10-of-16 won by Charley Rogener and 3-of-4 for Kevin Hogan.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, March 18, as they head to Ridgefield, Conn., for a neutral site contest against 19th-ranked Dartmouth at Ridgefield High School. The game is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

Air Force 12, Siena 8
Siena Scoring: Goals: Matt Girsh 2, Matt Walsh 2, Michael Aylward 2, Matt Donovan, Chris Zarins. Assists: Matt Donovan 3, Matt Girsh, Greg Powell, Matt Walsh, Chris Zarins.
Air Force Scoring: Goals: Kevin Crumrine 4,Griffin Nevitt 3, Justin Kuchta 2, Will Meister, John Smith, Conrad Lochocki. Assists: Will Meister 3, Justin Kuchta 2, Griffin Nevitt 2, Brian Massa, Chris Tubesing, Michael Weber.

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Melissa McKeown
U.S. Air Force Academy
Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director
719.333.9025 (office)
719.333.3798 (fax)
719.331.8321 (cell)